Sight feed indicator and measuring device



C. F. TERRELL, JR

SIGHT FEED INDICATOR AND MEASURING DEVICE Filed March 25, 1935 July 14, 1936.

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ATTORNEY INVENTOR C YZaI'ZmF TeH'eZLJM FM H- w IN I I atent ed July M, i936 sren'r reap rrmrearoa Measmame barren Charles F. Terrell, in, @hicago, ml ignor to The re Oil @ompany,

ration of Ohio Chicago, Hit, a corpo- Application March 25,1935, Seriai No. 13,005

21 tile. (carerea) This invention relates to devices for observing and measuring rate of flow of fiuids. More particularly the invention is concerned with sight feed indicating and measuring devices for determining the rate of feed of small quantities of liquid lubricants fed under pressure.

In an application Serial No. 759,036, filed Deit is customary to connect a sight feed indicator into the feed line from the lubricator. In one form of indicator now in commercial use, a clear fluid such as glycerine is contained therein I through which thelubricant to be pumped passes and the passage of globules of lubricant upwardly through the indicator liquid can be observed since they are lighter in weight than and immiscible with the fluid contained in the indicator. This type of indicator is not entirely satisfactory since i the indicator liquid often becomes displaced by the lubricant that is pumped through it, with the a 2 result that it is impossible to observe the movemechanical or blinker type indicators, although not subject to the difficulty mentioned in connection with the liquid type indicators, like the lubricant flowing therethrough and hence it is not possible to accurately regulate the quantity of fluid fed by the lubricator to conform to the requirements of the various bearing and machine parts to be lubricated.

My invention is designed to overcome the disadvantages inherent in liquid flow indicators now available for commercial use. In addition to providing a simple and reliable device for observing fiuid flow, means are provided for observing the volume of flow, and. by checking the volume against time, the volume rate of flow can be easily calculated.

In accordance with my invention, the fluid to be measured is pumped into a receptacle against the face of a plunger, slidably mounted in 2. cylinder of known cross sectional area. Glass windcws marked with calibrations in terms of distance or volume are positioned so that the stroke of the plunger can be observed. From the observed distance of travel of the plunger in a given time and the known area of the cylinder, the actual rate of flow can easily be calculated. The stroke of the plunger may be regulated either by a spring or by a detent, or both. By means ment of lubricant through the indicator. The

latter, do not measure the actual quantity of of a valve arrangement which is adapted to permit passage of lubricant through the plunger when it has reached the end of its stroke, the plunger is caused to return to its initial position whereupon the valve arrangement closes-and the 5 lubricant fed through the indicating device again exerts pressure on the plunger to move it through another stroke.

One of the novel features of my invention is the provision of an indicating and measuring dem vice capable oi operation with fluids of widely different viscosities.

Another of the novel features of my invention resides in the provision of one or more reciprocating plungers in a sight feed indicator for ob- 15 serving and measuring rate of flow of fluid therethrough.

Still another novel feature of my invention resides in the means to limit and regulate the length of the stroke of the plungers within the visible range so that the volumeflow of the fluid through the indicator can be accurately observed and its rate of flow calculated from observation.

A further novel feature of my invention resides in the valve assembly, of which the plungers form part, for permitting the plungers to return to their initial position.

A still further feature of my invention is the provision of an indicator by means of which performance-of a fluid pumpingmechanism, particularly in respect to valve leakage, can be observed.

other novel features will be apparent from. the following description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, of which Figure l is a vertical cross sectional view of one form of indicator in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side vertical view of 40 a portion of the indicator shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view of a modified form of indicator.

Figure 4 is a plan view of a portion of the indicator shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical cross sectional view of a still further modification of the indicator which forms the subject of my invention.

Referring to Figure l, the numeral 0 indicates the body portion of an indicator made in accordance with my invention. The body portion sliding cylinder for the hollow plunger 8 which fits snugly therein. The lower portion of the plunger 8 is formed with the valve seat In upon which the ball valve I2 is adapted to be seated. Any suitable shaped valve may be used instead of the ball valve I2. A valve weight I4 is loosely fitted within the plunger 8 and is adapted to hold the ball valve I2 against its seat Ill. The bottom of the plunger is formed with the lip IS.

The upper end of the body portion I is threaded at I8 in order to receive the bushing 20. The bushing 28 is also threaded in order to receive the adjusting screw 22.. The lock nut 24 is adapted to screw tightly against the upper surface of bushing 20 and hold the screw 22 in any desired position. The lower end of the screw 22 has a spring follower 26 fastened thereto by means of a screw 28 or other suitable means. The spring follower has openings 30 therein to permit passage of fluid therethrough. A coil spring 32 is located in the cylindrical space 34 and abuts against the spring follower 26 at its upper end and against the upper edge of the plunger 8 at its lower end. A discharge opening 36 near the upper end of the body I provides a passageway from the space 34 to a suitable pipe line. The outer end of the bore 36 is enlarged at 31 and provided with threads to receive a suitable pipe connection.

The lower hollow cylindrical portion 4 is recessed at 38 and 39 to receive the window glasses 4!! and M. The inner faces of the window glasses abut against ring members 42 and 44 which may be formed integrally with the body I. The ring members 42 and 44 coact with the lip I6 of plunger 8 to detent the plunger at the end of its upward stroke. The outer ends of the walls of recesses 38 and 39 are threaded at 46 and 48 to receive retaining nuts 58 and 5| which hold the window glasses firmly in place. The retaining nuts 56 and 5| are provided with slots 52 and 53 to enable them to be screwed and unscrewed. Suitable gaskets 54, 56, 58, and 60 are placed between the inner faces the glasses and the ring members 42 and 44, and between the outer faces of the glasses and the retaining nuts 68 and SI in order to make leak proof joints.

The lower end of the body portion I is threaded at 62 in order to receive bushing 64. Bushing 64 has a center bore 66 which at its 0uter.end conforms in diameter to the feed pipe to which it is to be connected and gradually widens toward its inner end 61 so as to exposea large area of the bottom face of plunger 8 to the fluid pressure. The

' diameter of the inner end 6'! of the bore 66 is substantially equal to the diameter of the portion of the plunger 8 above the lip I6. The bushing 64 is threaded at its lower end at 68 in order to provide means for screwing the indicator to the feed line coupling.

The indicator operates as follows:

With the indicator installed in a vertical position, the liquid from a fluid pressure pump or lubricator is forced through the bore 66 of the bushing 68 and exerts pressure against the lower face of the plunger 8. The plunger 8 is at the bottom of its stroke at this time resting on top of bushing 68 and the valve I2 is closed. Since the ratio of the weight of the assembly 8, I2, and I4, and tension of spring 32, plus frictional resistance, to the cross-sectional area of plunger body 8, is less than the ratio of the weight of weight I4 and valve I2 to the cross sectional area of passage I0 in plunger 8, the valve will remain closed and the plunger will be forced upwardly. This may be expressed mathematically as follows:

Let W=force required to move plunger 8 upwardly against tension of spring 32, weight of plunger 8, valve I2 and weight I4, and frictional resistance.

Let W=force required to move valve I2 upwardly against weight of valve I2 and weight I4.

Let A=cross sectional area of body of plunger 8.

Let A'=cross sectional area of valve seat I6.

Then:

The plunger moves upwardly until the lip I6 abuts the ring members 42 and 44 whereupon the upward travel of the plunger is halted and the continued flow of fluid from the pumping mechanism forces valve I2 and the valve weight I4 upward opening passageway I0. At the same time the pressure differential on the plunger 8 is released thus permitting it to fall by gravitational force and the action of the spring 32 at a greater rate than the valve I2 and valve weight I4. The plunger returns to its initial position at rest on the upper face of the bushing 64. When the valve I2 and valve weight I4 return to the closed position, the cycle is ready to be repeated. In order to determine the rate of flow of lubricant through the indicator, the time required for the plunger to complete its upward or forward stroke may be observed through the glass windows 40 and H, and from this data and the known cubic volume per unit of length of stroke of plunger 8, the volume per unit time can be readily calculated. The glass windows may be directly calibrated in terms of volume units so that the volume displacement can be read directly and divided by the time required for the plunger to move through any portion of.the stroke, thereby avoiding the necessity of observing the plunger over the entire forward stroke. The primary purpose of the spring 32 is to accelerate the return of the plunger to its initial position and it should be of such tension that when the adjusting screw 22 is in approximately itsuppermost position the plunger 8 can complete a full stroke before valve I2 opens. By adjusting the screw downwardly and increasing the compression on the spring the plunger can be made to return to its initial position more rapidly. This feature is desirable when operating with viscous fluids which offer greater resistance to the downward movement of the plunger. The increased compression on the spring compensates for the increased viscosity. The spring may be .of such tension that when sufliciently compressed by the screw 22 it will detent the plunger 8 and permit the valve to open before the completion of the upward stroke thus shortening the stroke of the plunger.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the indicator therein illustrated differs from Figure l primarily in that the valve I2 is maintained on its seat III by means of the retaining plate I0 fastened to the lower end of rod 'II and coil spring I2. The upper end of the rod II passes through a hole in the center of cross plate I4 and is guided thereby. The cross plate 14 may be formed integrally with the upper end of plunger 8 and has openings I6 to permit passage of fluid from the interior of the plunger into the cylinder 34'. The Q anemic instead oi weighting the valve it, the valve is re tained on its seat by means of the plate 10 and spring 12. The spring 12 is of sufllcient tension to maintain the valve in a closed position until the plunger 8' has moved through its upward or forward stroke. Instead of using a separate ball valve as shown in Figures 1 and 3, any desired shaped valve may be used and the valve may be formed as an integral part of the valve weight It or the rod H. For example, in Figure 3 an inverted cone-shaped element may be substituted for the plate It and valve l2 and the element may be fastened to the rod i l One advantage of the indicator shown in Figure 3 is that it may be used in any plane without disturbing its function since it does not depend on gravity to return the valve to the closed position.

The indicator shown in Figure 5 .diifers from that shown in Figure 1 in that two plungers d and 80 are provided to reciprocate in the cylinder 341" of the body i'. The lower part of the bore 34" is of slightly larger diameter than the upper part, thereby forming shoulder 82. The plunger St is of smaller diameter than the plunger 8''. Both plungers fit snugly against their respective sliding surfaces. The plunger 8" has a passageway 83 and the plunger 80 is preferably solid. It is apparent that the plunger 80 may be hollow provided that its lower surface is imperforate. .The lower surface of the plunger Bil may have a recess 8 3 into which the seating surface 86 on the upper end of the plunger t" isadapted to fit in order to form a valve assembly till to prevent liquid from passing from the passageway 83 in plunger 8" into the space M" when the two plungers are in contact with each other.

A bore or passageway 90 is provided in the wall of the body portion i" so that the upper surface of the bore is adjacent to but preferably slightly below the shoulder 82. I The outer end of bore St is closed by a screw plug 93. A vertical bore or passageway 94 in the body portion i passes from. the upper end thereof to the bore at. The upper end of bore 94 is closed by screw plug 96. A horizontal bore or passageway 98 connects the upper end of the cylinder 34%" to the bore 9t and to the outlet 99. The outlet 99 is enlarged and threaded at it to receive a suitable connection for a pipe line. It is apparent that instead of boring passageways 9t, 9t, and 9t, 9'. body portion with thin walls having pipe lines connected to the cylinder tit" or other means may be used.

The operation of the indicator shown in Figure 5 is as follows:

' With the indicator installed in a vertical position. at the beginning of a. stroke, the plunger 8" will be at rest and seated on the top of the bushing it". The plunger 8t will be seated on the top of plunger t" thereby closing the passageway ti. As fluid is forced through the bore tt" it exerts pressure'on the lower face of the plunger t" causing it to move upwardly. Since the ratio of the weight and frictional resistances of plungers t" and 8t to the cross sectional area of plunger ii" is less than the ratio of the weight and frictional resistance of plunger M to the cross sectional area of passageway t3, the plunger it will remain seated on top oi the plunger 8" and the valve 84% will remain on seat ht. The fluid which is in the cylinder t l" above the plungers it" and 8t will be forced to outlet 9t through the boresllt, t t, and hit. When the upper end of plunger 8" abuts the shoulder 83?, the port 90 is closed, and the upward movement of plunger 2" is halted and the continued how of fluid from the by gravitational force thereby uncovering the port 90 and permitting the fluid to new therethrough. After the plunger t" uncovers the port 90 the differential pressure on plunger tit will be relieved and it will fall downwardly by gravitational force, displacing fluid from the cylinder 34' below the plunger 80 and forcing it through the ports 90, 9t, and Qt into the upper portion of the space at" above the plunger at. For any fluid that may be forced by the pumping mechanism through the bore t6" during the descent of the plungers an equivalent will pass through the bore t3, ports at and at, and out through the discharge opening ltd. The movement oi the plunger 3" may be observed through the windows it" and ti" in the same manner as described in connection with Figures '1 to 4:, and the volume-rate oil flow per unit time can be calculated in the same manner.

It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that the body portion of the devices shown and described may be formed from suitable metal or alloy by casting and machining operations.

Although I have shown but three specific em= bodiments of my invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular devices shown and described but it is intended to cover all equivalent devices which utilize the principle of operation embodied by the devices herein shown and described.

What I claim is:

l. A fluid flow indicator comprising a body having an inlet and an outlet opening connected by a passageway, a reciprocating means in said passageway, said reciprocating means being provided with a passageway adapted to connect said inlet and outlet, means for maintaining said last mentioned passageway closed during the entire forward stroke of said reciprocating means, said closing means being displaceable in the direction of the forward stroke of said reciprocating means by the difierential pressure of the fluid across the closing means, at the limit oi. said forward stroke, for'establlshing equilibrium of fluid pres: sure on opposite sides of said reciprocating means and to permit the return of said reciprocating means and said closing means to their initial positons, and means for disclosing the movement of said reciprocating means.

2. An indicator in accordance with claim 1. ineluding a detent to stop said reciprocating means at the end of its forward stroke.

3. A fluid flow indicating device comprising a body portion having an inlet and outlet connected by a passageway, a reciprocating means in said passageway adapted to prevent passage of fluid therethrough, a passageway through said reciprocating means for permitting flow of fluid from said inlet to said outlet, a valve arranged to close said last mentioned passageway, means for retaining the -valve in closed position during the entire advance stroke of said reciprocating means, said valve being displaceable in the direction of the advance stroke of said reciprocating means by the difi'erential pressure of the fluid across said valve, at the limit of said advance stroke, for establishing equilibrium of fluid pressure on opposite sides of said reciprocating means and to permit the return of said reciprocating means and said valve to their initial positions, and means for disclosing the movement of said reciprocating means.

4. An indicating device in accordance with claim 3 including a detent to stop said reciprocating means at the end of its advance stroke.

5. A liquid flow indicator comprising a body portion having an inlet and an outlet connected by a passageway, a reciprocating member snugly mounted in said passageway which prevents flow therethrough from said inlet to said outlet, a second passageway connecting said inlet and outlet, a valve arranged to close said second passageway', said valve being displaceable in the direction of the forward stroke of said reciprocating means by the differential pressure of the fluid across said valve, at the limit of said forward stroke for opening said valve in the direction of the forward stroke of said reciprocating member thereby establishing equilibrium of fluid pressure on opposite sides of said reciprocating means and to permit the return of said reciprocating means and valve to their initial positions, and means for disclosing movement of said reciprocating member.

6. A fluid flow indicator comprising a body portion having an inlet and outlet connected by a passageway, means adapted to reciprocate in said passageway, a passageway in said reciprocating means, a valve adapted to reciprocate with said reciprocating means during the forward stroke thereof and to maintain the passageway therein closed, said valve being displaceable by the differential pressure of the fluid across said valve, at the limit of said forward stroke for establishing equilibrium of fluid pressure on opposite sides of 1 said reciprocating means and to permit the return of said reciprocating means and said valve to their initial positions, a spring abutting against said means positioned to oppose the forward stroke of said reciprocating means and to quickly return it to its initial position at the end of the forward stroke, and means to disclose movement of said reciprocating means.

7. An indicator in accordance with claim 6 including a detent to stop said reciprocating means at the end of its forward stroke.

8. An indicator in accordance with claim 6 in which the valve is displaced in the direction of said forward stroke.

9. A fluid flow indicator comprising a body portion having an inlet and outlet connected by a passageway, a reciprocating memberin said passageway, a passageway in said reciprocating member, a valve for closing said last mentioned passageway, said valve being displaceable by the differential pressure of the fluid across said valve at the limit of the forward stroke of said reciprocating means thereby establishing equilibrium of fluid pressure on opposite sides of said reciprocating means and remitting the return of said reciprocating means and said valve to their initial positions, a detent to stop said reciprocating means at the end of its forward stroke, and means for disclosing movement of said reciprocating member.

10. A fluid flow indicating device comprising a body portion having an inlet and outlet connected by a passageway, means adapted to reciprocate in said passageway, a passageway in said reciprocating means, a valve in said last mentioned passageway, said valve being displaceable by the difierential pressure of the fluid across it at the end of the forward stroke of said reciprocating means, means comprising a spring for normally holding in and for returning said valve to closed position, a second spring positioned to oppose the advance stroke of said reciprocating means, said springs being of such relative tensions as to permit the valve to be opened by fluid pressure when the reciprocating means has reached the end of its forward stroke, and means for disclosing the movement of said reciprocating means.

11. A fluid flow indicator comprising a body portion having an inlet and outlet connected by a passageway, a reciprocating means in said passageway, a passageway through said reciprocating means, to permit flow from said inlet to said outlet, a valve in said last mentioned passageway, said valve being displaceable by fluid pressure across it, at the end of the forward stroke of said reciprocating means, means for normally holding said valve in and for returning said valve to closed position, means for varying the length of the forward stroke of said reciprocating means, and means for disclosing the distance through which said reciprocating means moves.

12. A fluid flow indicator comprising a body portion having an inlet and outlet connected by a passageway, a reciprocating means in said passageway, a passageway through said reciprocating means to permit flow from said inlet to said outlet, a valve in said last mentioned passageway. said valve being displaceable by diiferential fluid pressure at the end of the forward stroke of said reciprocating means, means for normally holding said valve in and for returning said valve to closed position, means comprising a spring for opposingthe advance stroke of said reciprocating means, means for varying the tension of said 35 spring whereby to vary the stroke of said reciprocating means, and means for disclosing the length of the stroke of said reciprocating means.

13. A fluid flow indicating device comprising a body portion having an inlet and outlet connected by a passageway, the lower portion of said passageway having a larger diameter than the upper portion thereof whereby to form a shoulder along the line where the two portions meet, a member adapted to reciprocate in the portion of larger diameter, said member having a passageway to permit passage of fluid from said inlet to said outlet, a second member adapted to reciprocate in the portion of smaller diameter, said second member being adapted to seat on the top. of said first member and form a closure for the passageway in said member, there being passageways connecting the upper ends of said small and large diameter portions to each other and to said outlet, andmeans for disclosing the movement of at least one of said reciprocating members.

a 14. A fluid flow indicating device comprising a body portion having an inlet and an outlet connected by a passageway, means adapted to reciprocate in said passageway, a passageway in said reciprocating means, a valvein said last mentioned passageway, said valve being displaceable by the differential pressure of. the fluid across it at the end of the forward stroke of said reciprocating means, weight means for normally holding said 05 valve in and returning said valve to closed position, meansfor detenting said reciprocating means at the end of its forward stroke, a spring in said first mentioned passageway adapted to be compressed during the forward stroke of said recip- 7o rocating means and adapted to quickly return said reciprocating means to its initial position, and means for disclosingthe movement of said reciprocating means. 15. A fluid flow indicating device comprising a" body portion having an inlet and outlet connected by a passageway, means adapted to reciprocate in said passageway, a passageway in said'reciprocating means, a valve for closing said last men- 5 tioned passageway, said valve being displaceable by the diflerential pressure of the fluid across it, at the end of the forward stroke of said reciprocating means, means comprising a spring for normally holding said valve in and for returning said valve to closed position, a second spring mounted in said first mentioned passageway, adapted to rapidly return said reciprocating means to its initial position,-means to detent said reciprocating means at the end of its forward stroke, and means for disclosing the movement of said reciprocating means.

16. A device for permitting observation of flow of liquids comprising a body portion having an inlet and outlet connected by a passageway, a

reciprocating member snugly mounted in said passageway, there being a passageway through said reciprocating member to permit flow from said inlet to said outlet, a valve in said passageway, means for retaining the valve in closed position during the entire forward stroke of said reciprocating member and adapted to permit the valve to be opened in the direction of the forward stroke of said reciprocating member by fluid pressure, and means for disclosing the movement of said reciprocating member.

17. A device for disclosing flow of fluids comprising a body portion having an inlet and an outlet connected by a passageway, a reciprocating member snugly mounted in said passageway, there being a passageway in said reciprocating member, a spring mounted in said body to rapidly return said reciprocating. member to its original position at the end of its forward stroke, means to detent said reciprocating member at 40 the end of its stroke, a valve adapted to maintain the passageway in said reciprocating member closed during the entire forward stroke of said member, and means for disclosing movement of said reciprocating member.

18. A device for disclosing flow of fluids comprising a. body portion having an inlet and an outlet connected by a passageway, a plunger adapted to fit snugly in said passageway and reciprocate therein, there being a passageway in 5 said plunger to permit fluid to flow therethrough from said inlet to said outlet, a movable closure 5 for said last-mentioned passageway adapted to maintain said passageway closed and to move with said plunger during its entire forward stroke, 10 and adapted to open said last mentioned passageway at the end of said forward stroke, a detent for terminating the forward stroke of said plunger, means to cause said plunger to return to its mam position ahead of. said closure, and 15 means for disclosing movement of said plunger.

19. A fluid flow indicator comprising a body portion having an inlet and an outlet connected by a passageway, a plunger snugly mounted in said passageway and adapted to reciprocate 20 therein, there being a passageway through said plunger to permit flow of fluid therethrough from said inlet to said outlet, a valve seat in said lastmentioned passageway, a valve seated thereon and adapted to be maintained in closed position 325 during the entire forward stroke of said plunger, means arranged to coact with fluid flowing through said indicator to open said valve at the end of said stroke, said last mentioned means comprising a detent adapted to engage said plunger and terminate the forward stroke thereof, and means disclosing the movement of said plunger.

20. Indicator in accordance with claim 19 in 35 which a spring is provided within said body por-- tion for rapidly returning the plunger to its initial position.

21. Indicator idaccordance with claim 19 in which springs are provided for returning said 40 plunger and said valve to their initial position.

CHARLES F. 'IERREIL, JR. 

